Picture frame



Patented Oct. 8, I935 UNETED STATES PATENT or ies PICTURE FRAME Application December 2, 1932, Serial No. 645,338

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an .adjustable frame for supporting pictures, mirrors, plaques or other similar objects. The frame is simply constructed and readily lends itself to be made of stamped sheet metal. It can be used to support objects of different sizes. With my construction, it is not necessary as is the usual practice at present, to make a frame to order to suit pictures or mirrors etc. of each particular size. My frame is composed of parts, slidable over each other, which can be set, within predetermined limits, to embrace and support objects of various sizes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon further study of the description and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my frame used in connection with a small picture.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the supporting leg being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of my frame used in connection with a large picture.

The upper portion of the frame is T shaped having a stem 5 and a channel shaped head or crosspiece The lower portion of stem 5 is bent back on itself to form guide flanges l, 8 and 9. Flanges ii and 9 are on the same side of stem 5 but are spaced from each other sufficiently to permit tongue i t, of stem 5 to come between them. The lower portion of the frame is also T shaped with a stem H and a channel shaped head 52. Stem ii is adapted to slide on the rear face of stem 5 inside of guide flanges l, 8 and 9. Pivotally mounted, by means of pin It, on the rear of tongue iii, is an eccentric catch it, for locking stem i l in various up and down positions on stem 5. The upper part of stem H is stamped out to form a projection 65 to the rear, said projection being provided with an eyelet it, if it be desired to hang the frame on a hook or nail. If it be desired to place the frame on a table or shelf, the upper part of a supporting leg ii is inserted through eyelet it as shown.

When the frame is used to sup-port a small picture, as say the one shown at E8, and a glass front is desired, the picture is laid between a glass l9 and a backing piece 20. Stems 5 and H are slid over each other bringing heads 6 and 82 as close together as possible with their front legs in front of glass l9 and their rear legs behind backing piece 29. The frame is then locked in this position by turning eccentric catch M in a counter-clockwise direction. Any tendency of the frame parts to separate, due to the weight of the pieces supported and the weight of the lower frame part, is counteracted by the tendency of cocentric catch M to be turned still further in a counter-clockwise direction and thereby wedging stem ll tighter. A flat spring 2! is inserted between stem 5 and backing piece 20 to hold the latter flat against picture it and glass l9.

Where a large picture is to be supported, Fig. 4, heads 6 and I 2 are separated sufficiently to embrace the picture and a correspondingly larger glass 22 together with a larger backing piece (not shown). The eccentric catch M, as before, is turned in a counter-clockwise direction for looking the frame parts together. In the case of a larger picture, it is preferable to use an additional flat spring 2|.

In the claims, the frame is specified as supporting a picture, but I wish it to be understood that other objects such as the glass cover for the picture, mirrors and plaques are meant as well.

I claim:-

1. A frame for supporting a picture, comprising an upper and a lower cross-piece formed to hold opposite ends of the picture, an extension for each cross-piece and joined thereto, a flange on one side of one of the extensions for forming a guide, a pair of spaced flanges on the opposite side for forming guides, a tongue extending from said latter extension between the spaced guides, and a releasable catch mounted upon said tongue for locking said extensions against relative motion, whereby said cross-pieces can be set to the size of the picture.

2. A frame for supporting a picture, comprising an upper and a lower cross-piece formed to hold.

opposite ends of a picture and a sheet of glass placed in front of it, an extension for each crosspiece and joined thereto, said extensions being slidably mounted upon each other, a releasable catch mounted upon one extension for locking said extensions against relative motion, whereby said cross-pieces can be set to the size of the glass, said extensions being offset backward from their corresponding cross-pieces whereby a space is left between the extensions and an inserted picture, and an elongated resilient member inserted in said space pressing against .an extension and said inserted picture.

3. A frame for supporting a picture comprising an upper and a lower cross-piece formed to hold opposite ends of the picture, an extension for each cross-piece and joined thereto, said extenions being slidably mounted upon each other, a releasable catch mounted upon one extension for locking said extensions against relative motion,

whereby said cross-pieces can be set to the size of the picture, said extensions being offset backward from their corresponding cross-pieces whereby a space is left between the extensions and an inserted picture, and a resilient member inserted in said space pressing against an extension and said inserted picture.

4. A frame for supporting a picture, comprising an upper and a lower cross-piece formed to hold opposite ends of the picture, an extension for each cross-piece and joined thereto, said extensions being s1idab1y mounted upon each other, a releasable catch mounted upon one extension for locking said extensions against relative motion, whereby said cross-pieces can be set to the size of the picture, the extension for the lower crosspiece having a portion, near the top, set back sufficiently from the back of the extension for the upper cross-piece, to leave a space between said extensions suitable for the insertion into said space of a. mounting for said frame, said set back portion being provided with an opening for the insertion therethrough into the space between the 10 extensions of said mounting.

NATHAN GEORGE HORWITT. 

